Game apparatus.



W. BRENNAN.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.9,1914.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

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GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED mum. 1914.

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WILLIAM BRENNAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914 Application filed March 9, 1914 Serial No. 823,438

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM DRENNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in games and toys and more particularly to apparatus for producing miniature games of base ball.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a game of the character described which will be highly amusing and instructive.

A secondary object is to provide improved means for supporting the players upon the field.

Still another object is to provide novel means for indicating each strike pitched by the pitcher.

Vith the above objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved game board; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section on line 4et of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the game pieces; and Fig. 6 is a similar view of the bat.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my improved game board as comprising a top 1 upon which is designated the out line of a base ball diamond as indicated at 2, said top being supported by and spaced from a suitable bottom 8 by a rectangular frame 4:.

The diamond 2 is marked in such a manner as to indicate the various base lines, the pitchers box, home plate and back stop, and said base lines are provided at proper intervals with openings 5 which are arranged in groups of two and are preferably disposed as follows: A group behind the home plate indicated at A, a group to the. left of said plate indicated at B, a group at first base indicated at C, a fourth group at approximately the position played by the first baseman and indicated at D, a group at second base indicated at E, a group at F at approximately the position played by the second baseman, a group at G at the position played by the third baseman, and a last group at third base and indicated at H. The position of the short stop is indicated at the point I at which a pair of openings 6 is disposed. The pitchers box J is provided with a pair of openings 7, right field is provided at K with a pair of openings 8, center field L with openings 9, and left field M wlth a pair of openings 10. Secured at one end of a flat leaf spring 11 carried by the frame 4, is a cord 12 which is passed upwardlythrough one of the openings 5, at the point A, thence downwardly through the other opening at this point, up and down through the openings 5 at C, D, E, F, G, H, then up and down through the openings 6 at the point I from which it is passed through the openings at the point J and then continues to the openings 8, 9 and 10 respectively, which openings it is passed through in the manner previously described and has its free end secured at 13 to the inner side of the frame 4. By this arrangement of the cord 12 and the spring 6, it will be readily seen that a plurality of loops will be formed at the points A .to M inclusive, and that the tension of the spring 11 will at all times keep said cord stretched tightly throughout its length. The game pieces 14 are in rough outline of uniformed players having tapered bases 15 which are adapted to be inserted beneath the various loops in a manner to appear. Each base 15 is in the form of a wedge both in edge and plan view, and is sharpened on one end as shown at 16 for the purpose of facilitating its engagement with any of the loops. Disposed a suitable distance behind the home plate and catchers box and coming into action in a manner to appear, is a back stop 17 which is in the form of an upright board pivotally supported at its lower end as at 18 upon the top 1 of the device.

In playing the game, the operation is as follows: The outsiders are placed in their respective loops leaving three of them vacant at the bases C, E and H and one vacant loop at the home plate B into which the first batter of the inside team is placed by inserting his tapered base 16 beneath the loop at this point. The ball is now shot by one person from center field and is preferably propelled in the usual manner of shooting a marble. The other person playing the game now grasps a suitable bat 6 between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand and with his right hand, pulls the outer end of said bat rearwardly in such a manner as to cause it to move forcibly forward, when his right hand is removed. It will be understood that he will endeavor in this manner to hit the ball which is shot from center field as before suggested. Should he hit the ball fairly, the player at the point D is removed from his loop and inserted in the loop C and the batter is removed from the loop at the home plate and inserted into the loop D. If this operation is completed before the opponent fields the ball and touches first base there with, a safe hit has been made. If the batter fails in his endeavors to strike the hall, if said ball has been truly pitched, it will strike the back stop .17 and cause it to rock upon its pivot 18 and fall upon the board, thus indicating that the pitcher has pitched a strike. The ball is now kept from rolling off the board by means of a suitable rail or flange 20 which surrounds the entire board. Considering that the first man up, has gotten a safe hit and is safely within the loop at the point D and that the second batter is at his position at the home plate, the batter now up, to hit safely would succeed in the following way: The second baseman would be removed from the loop F and inserted in the loop E, the runner on first would be removed fro-m loop D and inserted in loop F and the batter would be removed from the loop at the home plate and inserted in the loop D. If the batter did not succeed and the runner did, a sacrifice hit would be made.

The foregoing is a general description of the manner of playing the game and it will be seen that practically the same rules employed in organized base ball will be em ployed. It will also be noted that the various positions to which the players are moved are indicative of the position which would, be assumed by the players in a regular game of base ball.

The game is not only adapted for childrens use, but is very instructive for elders as well, since, when played in connection with the rules governing organized base ball, it is very instructive and teaches a great many of expedient plays.

It may here be stated that the nine men on each side wear uniforms of the same design or are decorated in a suitable manner to readily distinguish them, and that at the end of each inning, the players of one side are removed from the various loops and the players of the opposite side are inserted therein.

The bottom 3 is preferably made removable for the purpose of gaining access to the cord 12 and the spring 11, since the cord will undoubtedly become worn in time and it will be necessary to replace it. From the foregoing manner of applying said cord, it will be seen that this is a very simple operation and that the game, when provided with a new cord, is as efiicient as if it were newly bought.

If found desirable, the tapered bases of the players may be formed of various widths and thicknesses, thus facilitating or retarding the insertion thereof beneath the loops. This effectually represents fast and slow men on an organized. base ball team and renders the game more amusing.

Although I have described my invention with considerable minuteness, I do not wish to be limited to details other than those amplified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. A game board having a plurality of yielding loops upon its upper face and normally contacting therewith throughout their lengths and a plurality of wedge shaped game pieces adapted to be inserted in said.

loops.

2. A game board having upon its upper face, a representation of a base ball diamond, a resilient loop rising from said board at each players position, said loops contacting with said upper face of the board throughout their lengths, and a plurality of game pieces having wedge shaped bases adapted to be passed beneath said loops.

3. A game board having upon its upper face a representation of a base ball diamond, said board having a pair of openings at each players position, a flexible element passing through said openings and forming a loop at each players position, one end of said element being rigidly connected with said board, a tensioning device on the other end of said flexible element and a number of game pieces for insertion beneath said loops.

l. The combination with a game board having upon its face, a representation of a base ball diamond, of a back stop behind the catchers position, said back stop being pivoted to said board and being adapted to be struck by a ball passing over the home plate, whereby said back stop will be rocked around its pivot.

A game board having upon its upper face, a representation of a base ball diamond, said board having a pair of openings at each players position, a fiexible element passing through said openings and forming a loo-p at each players position, one end of said element being rigidly connected with said board, a tensioning device on the other In testimony whereof I have hereunto set end of said flexible element, a number of my hand in presence of two subscribing W1tgame pieces for insertion beneath said loops nesses.

and a pivotally supported back stop behind WILLIAM DRENNAN. 5 the representation of the home plate and Witnesses:

being adapted to be rocked upon its pivot M. SEALER ALLEN,

When hit with a ball. MARY R. KELLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

